TRIGGER WARNING: this is fallout, so there will be heavy subjects. however, this chapter does contain some sexual assault, so just a heads up. Love y'all :)
"If you'd be a dear, it would really help out Goodneighbor if you could scout out Pickman's... for a few caps of course?" Hancock rasped, his hand resting comfortably on the crook of his neck.
I clicked my tongue softly, weighing out the options. Hancock seemed to be nice enough, if not stoned out of his mind.
Hancocks dark eyes sized me up before he rested his back against the wall. Nick stepped up to my side, placing his cool hand on my shoulder.
I jolted at the touch, craving for more of his body pressed against my own. Silly how one single touch could send my heart into a frenzy.
"So? You up for it?" Hancock inquired again, slight impatience lacing his tone. I snapped out of my trace of lust and met the ghoul's eyes with my own.
"I'll do it." I responded, running my fingers through my darkened hair, "When do you want this done?"
"As soon as you're willing to."
I glanced over at Nick, and he responded with his shrug of approval. "I'll start today." I replied, beginning to walk towards the winding staircase.
"Uh, Willow, is it?" Hancock asked, pushing himself from off the wall. His dark eyes relayed an expression of concern before he sighed softly.
"Stay safe."
"I have thus far." I answered, sending Hancock a quick, comforting smile. He grinned back and turned towards his office.
Nick's shoulder brushed against my own as he went to open the door for me. Another jolt wracked its way through my system, causing me to startle slightly.
"What? I shock you or somethin'?" Nick joked, sending a heart-stopping smirk towards me.
"N-no," I giggled nervously, before stepping towards the exit, "Just tired."
Nick cocked his brow and just decided to dismiss the issue. I strolled past him, breathing in the smell of piss and garbage; the familiar smell of the Commonwealth.
"Sometimes I'm glad I can't smell." Nick commented again, his yellow eyes surveying the landscape around us, "It looks repulsive enough, can't imagine the smell."
"You don't want to." I laughed back, covering my nose for dramatic effect.
The two of us continued friendly banter and chit-chat along the short walk to Pickman's. Before we knew it, the rickety, old building came into our line of sight.
"Hey! Who's there?" a nervous raider's voice called out across the parking lot.
"Probably scum." Nick remarked, crouching down behind the same truck as I was. I felt his closeness radiating next to me, and my breathing hitched in my throat.
BANG!
A gunshot ricocheted off the side of the truck, causing a humiliating screech, my humiliating screech, to fill the air. I grabbed my trusted 10mm from the holster and looked down the glow sights.
An ugly, twisted face of a raider bore back at me, and I didn't even hesitate as I squeezed the worn trigger. The familiar bang filled my ears as the bullet ripped through the raiders chest. He crumpled to the ground, and I hastily reloaded the magazine.
Nick let out a shaky laugh and placed his hand on my shoulder reassuringly. I laughed back, the adrenaline causing me to feel a weird emotion that lay between fear and euphoria.
I heard faint chatter from the surrounding raiders, and I drew my machete from the strap across my back.
Nick and I tore through the remaining raiders like it was child's play. I huffed slightly at the exertion while Nick remained placid.
"Ready?" I panted, gesturing to the busted door that lay ahead of us. Nick nodded in reply, and I pushed open the door cautiously.
I crouched down as soon as my eyes landed upon a gaggle of raiders grouped up at the end of the hall. They were all muttering angrily at each other.
"PICKMAN!" one of them suddenly screamed, causing my heart to lodge itself in my throat, "We're gonna find you, you little shit! We'll kill you!"
"Splatter your brains!" another commented, causing a frenzy of dry laughter to ripple through the crowd.
As the raider's continued to yell profanities at the shut door that Pickman was behind, Nick and I began to slowly meander across the threshold.
Our eyes fell on a gruesome sight; demonic paintings lined the walls of a dark room. The center point of the room was filled with an assortment of discarded organs and other body parts.
I gagged at the foul smell of decomposing bodies filled my nose. You'd think after my extensive time in the Commonwealth I wouldn't be bothered, but occasionally my stomach would do flips at the sights the world had to offer.
Nick lay a comforting hand on my shoulder as a sign of sympathy. I leaned slightly into the touch, causing Nick to recoil slightly before standing up. I sighed, the sour and demeaning feeling of rejection flooding my mental circuits.
I straightened my posture as well and surveyed the room. After finding my way around the mound of bodies, I came across one that was mostly in tract. I held my breath and did the all too familiar searching of the body.
I came back up triumphantly holding a holotape and a few caps. Nick nodded in silent approval and the two of us began to walk back out. We exited the building without being seen; I pressed my back against the wall of an alleyway, breathing out a sigh of relief.
Nick looked down at the cellphone like device he kept on himself. It was a pager of sorts. I glanced up at the synth sheepishly, and quickly looked back down as to avoid making eye contact.
In my daze, a knife suddenly pressed against my throat. I inhaled sharply and went to call for help, but a voice instead demanded, "Stay silent, or I blow the detective's head off."
I closed my mouth as a signal of approval, and a devilish grin spread across the face of my capture. He pulled me into the darkened alley, and I was met with a small gaggle of beat up men: raiders by the look of them.
"We're gonna have a little fun with you, sweetheart." the man growled, tracing a grimy finger down my face and across my lips.
In a flash, I went to grab my gun, but I looked up to see a band of guns lined up, all pointing at my head. I slowly put my hands up in the air much to the men's satisfaction.
Two of them pinned me against the wall, and I felt one of their tongues drag against the side of my neck. I shivered in disgust, trying to crane my neck further away from the men's touch.
"Nah, missy. C'mere." one of them demanded, grinding his filthy body up against my own. To my shame, a tear rolled its way down my cheek as I tried to wriggle out from the men's firm grasps.
My struggles only brought them closer to me; their grotesque figures intertwining with one another and my own.
The tears came down quicker as the men became more lustful. I felt degraded. Defeated. Humiliation and agony made my stomach churn. Bile burned the back of my throat as I heard a zipper opened.
"Please." I croaked out pathetically, closing my eyes in a wimpy attempt to disguise my tears. The raiders barked sharp laughs in response to my begging, and only sped up their lewd actions.
Suddenly, another sharp sound pierced the air. The raider who's body was pressed into my side crumpled to the floor, causing the other man to whip his head to the source of the noise.
Nick stood at the entrance to the alley, his signature pipe revolver smoking. The raider's eyes became wide as saucers as he tried to flee, but alas, no man could outrun a bullet.
The raider's head exploded into a million bloody pieces. The remainder of the onlookers scattered, their vile laughter morphing into horrified screams.
Nick cleared through the lot of them, anger fueling his impeccable aim. As soon as the last raider fell, Nick rushed to my side.
Tears still cascaded down my face and I fell to the hard ground. My silent whimpers turned into sobs of fear and agony as I relived the moment over and over again in my mind.
The familiar smell of Nick's trench coat, the smell of cigarettes and old papers, filled my nose as he enveloped me in his arms. I laid my head on his shoulder, feeling grateful for Nick's kindness.
"Shh, doll, it's okay." Nick soothed. I relaxed into his touch, letting out a small, shaky sigh. We laid together like that for what felt like hours until I was able to calm myself down.
"What happened?" he inquired, his voice soft and calming. I shuddered slightly, sniffling in an unflattering manner.
"I-I was just w-waiting for you t-to finish your pager t-thingy and he j-just came outta n-no where." I stammered out, hurriedly trying to wipe the fresh tears that rolled down my face. Nick reached his skin-like hand to wipe them for me.
I smiled softly at the gesture, looking at his glowing eyes for reassurance. I noticed Nick already staring into my own grey eyes, causing a faint blush to dust my cheeks.
Nick smiled, placing his pointer finger underneath my chin. He locked eyes with me again after he surveyed my body up and down.
"You're beautiful." he remarked. A simple comment, but one that didn't fail to make my face heat up.
"Y-you don't mean it." I laughed quietly, tucking my ratty hair behind my ear.
Nick craned his neck down and placed a delicate kiss on my chapped lips. It was as if electricity coursed through every part of my body as we connected. His lips felt cool against mine; I wrapped my arm around the back of his neck, bringing him in closer to my body.
He pulled away, leaving his forehead against my own. I huffed out a shallow breath and leaned my back against the wall. Nick smiled at me again and stood up from the ground and extended a hand towards me. I accepted it gladly, and pulled myself up.
I felt Nick's arm snake around my waist as we walked out of the alleyway together. I laid my head against his shoulder, nuzzling further into the side of his trench coat.
"C'mon, doll. Let's get you out of here." Nick murmured, his gravelly voice sending a shiver down my spine. I nodded in agreement, stepping out into the bright Commonwealth sun.
[unedited]
requested by: sparklecat999
I'm back! I've been gone for a hot minute, but I recently found myself some inspiration and some time to write. Hope you all enjoy this chapter!Love all of you endlessly :)
- fallout_geek_